Life is more like going to a concert than going to the grocery store.
A trip to the grocery store is a controlled experience. It’s practical (also pretty boring), utilitarian, and straightforward. We choose what we need, what suits us best, we can even return things if we change our minds halfway through — and most importantly: we pay at the end.
A concert is the complete opposite. It’s unpredictable and full of emotion. We don’t know exactly how it’s going to turn out — will it rain, will the sound be good, will the show deliver what was promised, or will it be postponed? Still, we choose to go for it — and above all, we pay in advance. In fact, the more excited we are about the show or the artist, the more we’re willing to pay — and the earlier we do it.
Life works exactly the same way. Whatever we want from it, we have to start paying for long before it arrives. And the better the outcome we’re aiming for, the higher the cost. We must put in the effort today to enjoy the reward tomorrow. We must make hard decisions now to see their impact 3, 5, or even 10 years down the road.
But there’s more: uncertainty is real. And sometimes, things won’t turn out the way we hoped, no matter how hard we prepared or how much effort we put in. Sometimes, it’s just not enough — other factors beyond our control come into play.
So our job is not to control the outcome — our job is to control the input. Life is a game of odds, a game of statistics. Our task is to increase the chances. Our task is to control what we do so that we increase the likelihood of getting what we want.
We have to pay in advance — and at the same time, trust that the part we can’t pay for will still work out.
Just like the athlete who sticks to their training plan to increase their chances of winning when the competition arrives.
Just like the artist who shows up to rehearsal to raise the odds that the performance will shine when the curtain goes up.
Just like the macadamia farmer who waits seven years to see the first nuts, and around ten to fifteen to reach peak yield.
In the end, the life we want isn’t bought on credit. It must be planted day by day, with patience and foresight — until the moment finally arrives when we get to enjoy that macadamia concert we once saw only in our minds.
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This article was written for El Faro newspaper—June 2025 edition, and you can view the original Spanish version here.